1.22.2014

Nightclub beating victim taken off life support

Fight might have been set off when Kim Pham accidentally walked in front of a group photo

Kim Pham, the 23-year-old woman was severely beaten in a fight outside a Santa Ana nightclub, died Tuesday after being taken off life support. According to one friend, the fight might have been set off when Pham accidentally walked in front of a camera as a another group posed for a photo.

I'm sorry, but that has to be the stupidest reason ever for getting into a fight.

There still aren't a lot of details about how the altercation unfolded, but police say the argument broke out between Pham's friends and another group in line outside the club, then escalated into a physical fight. Witnesses say Pham was hit, kicked and stomped on by several people even after she fell to the ground.

Santa Ana police have arrested a woman and continue to seek four other people in connection with the violent confrontation, which one friend said may have been triggered when Pham unintentionally walked in front of a camera as another group posed for a photo.

The Chapman University graduate, who aspired to one day host a talk show, hadn't wanted to go out the night she and two friends arrived at the Crosby, a popular restaurant in Santa Ana's historic district that becomes a lounge on weekends.

As they waited in line outside, an argument broke out between Pham's friends and another group. Police had few details but said the two groups did not know each other and that Pham was hit and stomped in the melee. An eight-second video of the incident shows one person kicking at something on the ground as a crowd gathers.

Police have arrested one suspect and are still looking for four other people in connection with the assault. Anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Ana Police Department at 714-245-8390 or OC Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.